Solid state electronic wristwatch

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a solid state electronic wristwatch incorporating a calendar display. The same electro-optical elements are used for the calendar display as are used to display time. The principal components of both the time and calendar circuits may be formed on a single large scale integrated circuit chip. The watch is of modular construction for ease of assembly and reliability. Also disclosed is a setting magnet for the watch stored in the watch bracelet.

United States Patent Roberts 1 Feb. 18, 1975 l l SOLID STATE ELECTRONIC WRISTWATCH [75] Inventor: Dennis A. Roberts, Washington Boro, Pa.

[73] Assignee: Time Computer, Inc., Lancaster, Pa.

[22] Filed: Oct. 16, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 406,941

Related U.S. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 328,639, Feb. I, 1973, Pat. No.

[52] U.S. Cl 58/4 A, 58/55, 58/58, 58/855, 58/88 R [5 1] Int. Cl.v G04b 19/24, G04b 37/00, G04b 27/00 [58] Field of Search 58/4 A. 23 R, 50 R, 52, 58/55, 58, 85.5, 88 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,733,810 5/1973 Girard 58/50 R 3.759,03l 9/1973 McCullough 58/50 R Primary Emminer-Edith Simmons Jackmon Attorney, Agent, or FirmLeBlanc & Shur [57] ABSTRACT Disclosed is a solid state electronic wristwatch incorporating a calendar display. The same electro-optical elements are used for the calendar display as are used to display time. The principal components of both the time and calendar circuits may be formed on a single large scale integrated circuit chip. The watch is of modular construction for ease of assembly and reliability. Also disclosed is a setting magnet for the watch stored in the watch bracelet.

3 Claims, 38 Drawing Figures PAIENTEUFEBWIQYS 3.866.406

sum [310F19 so 2 FREQU FREQUENCY DISPLAY 56 STAND CONVERTER ACTUATOR FIG. 5

PATENTED I 8 I975 3 866,406

SHEET on HF 19 FIG. 8A

SEE FIG. 5

OPTIONAL 286 INPUT olcnw I OSCILLATOR l 2 -\TENTEU 3 SHEET USUF 19 DECODER FIG. 88

SEE FIG. 8A

SEE FIG. 8C

9 m 242 DISPLAY INTENSITY CONTROL SEE FIGv 8B Pmmm 81% 3,866,406

SHEET UBUF 19 STROBING CIRCUIT 288 l 215 G I F|G.8C

2H2 UPDATE HOUR SET FATENTEI] FEB 1 8 I975 866 .406

SHEET 07 0F 19 READ PATENTEU 3866, 106

sum 08 0F 19 PATENTED 81975 SHEET USUF 19 mm FEB] 8 SHEET 1UUF 19 hum 52 llllllllllllllllll PATHHED 3, 666.406

SHEET l3UF 19 FIG. l8

itiTENHU FEB 1 8 W5 3, 866,406

SHEET 1UOF19 FIG. 2|

PATENTED EB 1 8% 3'. 866,406

SHEET lSOF 19 FIG. 22

PM'ENTEDFEBI 81915 3; 866,406

SHEET 170F 19 FIG. 28

SHEET 19UF19 mm 6E 

1. A wristwatch comprising a wristwatch case having a front window and a removable back plate, a one-piece frame of electrical insulating material in said case having one side adjacent said back plate and its other side adjacent said window, said frame including cavities on said one side, a trimmer capacitor in one of said cavities, the other of said cavities being adapted to removably receive a battery, a substrate mounted on said other side of said frame, an electro-optical display comprising a plurality of light-emitting diode digital display stations, a time computing circuit comprising at least a minute counter and an hour counter and a calendar circuit, said display, time computing circuit and calendar circuit all being on said substrate, both said time computing circuit and said calendar circuit being formed as large scale integrated circuits and coupled to said display, said frame including four additional cavities, magnetic field responsive reed switches in each of said four cavities, said switches comprising a time demand switch for coupling said time computing circuit to said display, a daTe demand switch for coupling said calendar circuit to said display, a minute set switch for setting said minute counter, and an hour set switch 2 for setting said hour counter, a pushbutton on said case adjacent each of said time demand and date demand switches for actuating them, a first permanent magnet receiving identation on said back plate adjacent said minute set switch, and a second permanent magnet receiving identation on said back plate adjacent said hour set switch whereby insertion of a permanent magnet into one of said indentations actuates the adjacent switch.
 2. A wristwatch according to claim 1 including a wristband connected to said case and having a support for a permanent magnet insertable into said indentations in said back plate.
 3. A wristwatch according to claim 2 including a generally horseshoe shaped permanent magnet received in said support. 